Cherry blossoms in Japan are worth celebrating, and there’s nothing like a festival atmosphere to enhance the sakura viewing! Several of Tokyo’s top cherry blossom spots host annual festivals for a week or two around mid-bloom (usually falling over two weekends).
Festivals mean food, drinks, and lots of people — which is why many of them have been canceled or scaled back in recent years, during the pandemic. However, quite a few are back this year (though some restrictions remain in place). These festas will be quieter during the week, if crowds are not your jam.
When are the cherry blossoms blooming this year in Tokyo? Early! The latest sakura forecast has first bloom in Tokyo on March 16 — and full bloom around March 24.
Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival
March 17 to April 9Ueno Park
Swan boats and stalls
Ueno Park hosts one of the busiest Tokyo cherry blossom festivals, with a boating lake, plenty of food stalls, and of course, lots of cherry trees. There are more than 800 trees to admire and the ground will be covered with blue tarps for days in advance, so expect crowds and lots of fun.
You can go boating on the large pond either in a swan or traditional rowing boat, and stroll beneath the blossoms while snacking on festival food to your heart’s content.
Ueno Cherry Blossom Festival
Bokutei Cherry Blossom Festival
March 18 to April 9Sumida Park
Cruises and festive atmosphere
An excellent place for a hanami party, Sumida Park has over 600 cherry trees between Azumabashi Bridge and Sakurabashi Bridge. The residents of Tokyo have been enjoying the blossoms here for hundreds of years, so you can valiantly carry on the traditions in their honor.
Another time-honored way to enjoy the blossoms along the Sumida River is with a riverboat cruise. These are available during the day or the evening, and tend to book up fast — though last we checked there were still some slots available.
Bokutei Cherry Blossom Festival
Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival
March 18 to April 9The river from Ikejiri-ōhashi Station to Meguro Station
Canal walk with lanterns
One of the most famous spots for hanami in Tokyo, the Meguro River has a canalside walk that will fill you with a newfound love for cherry blossoms — no matter how much you’ve seen them before. While eating and walking will be discouraged and there will be no stalls this year, local restaurants and cafes will still be open.
Nakameguro is especially known for being a couples’ spot, so if you’re looking for a romantic evening stroll, this is the perfect one to pick. Although the cherry trees are beautiful during the day, they are particularly stunning in the early evening as the sun sets and they are illuminated.
Nakameguro Cherry Blossom Festival
Chiyoda Cherry Blossom Festival
March 24 to April 4Kitanomaru Park and Chidorigafuchi Park
Imperial Palace and boats
Chidorigafuchi mixes history with beauty, as this section of the Imperial Palace moat bursts with cherry blossoms coms spring. You can take a rowboat out onto the water, to see the sprays of blooms from beneath. On land, there is a 700m-long tunnel of some 250 Somei Yoshino trees, which are illuminated in the evenings throughout the duration of the festival.
The boats are out till late during the festival and there will be food stalls and snacks available, too.
Chiyoda Cherry Blossom Festival
Traveling in Japan? We’ve got recommendations for the top blossom spots in Kyoto, as well as for nearby Osaka.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in March 2018. Last updated March 13, 2023.
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